Catalonia bans bullfighting

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

The parliament of Catalonia has voted to ban bullfighting - the first region of mainland Spain to do so.

The vote took place as the result of a petition brought to parliament, signed by 180,000 people who say the practice is barbaric and outdated.

Bullfight supporters insist that the corrida, as it is known, is an important tradition to preserve.

They also fear the vote could be the first of many in the country. The ban takes effect in January 2012.

 

 

In Wednesday's vote, 68 backed a ban, 55 voted against and nine abstained.

Barcelona's main bullring is one of the oldest in Spain, but support for the bullfight has waned. The Barcelona bullring is the only functioning one in Catalonia.

The vote was brought to the agenda by activists who argue it is cruel and unacceptable and say most spectators in Catalonia these days are tourists. The campaign was led by the animal rights lobby group Prou! (Enough!).

Supporters says the corrida is an art form that it is vital to preserve.

 

 

The BBC's Sarah Rainsford: "The emotions were very high in the debate"

 

Catalan nationalism The vote was close as the two main parties in parliament took the unusual step of allowing members to cast their ballots according to their conscience.

But while the official debate is over animal rights, many believe this process is an attempt by nationalist-minded Catalans to mark their difference from the rest of Spain by rejecting one of its best known traditions.

Pro-bullfighting groups fear that a ban could spark a wave of similar campaigns across the country. They argue that threatens the livelihood of thousands of people.

 

 

The first Spanish region to ban bullfighting was the Canary Islands, in 1991.

Deep-rooted tradition A bullfight typically lasts about 20 minutes, and the bull is stabbed numerous times before the fatal blow delivered with a sword thrust between its shoulder blades.

The fighting bulls are specially bred and traditionally a corrida involves six bulls and three matadors, each of whom tackles two bulls.

In Portugal and the south of France the bull is not killed in the ring.

Bullfighting is also widespread in Latin America. The Plaza Mexico arena in Mexico City is the biggest in the world, seating up to 55,000 spectators. One of the oldest is the 18th-Century Plaza de Acho in Lima, Peru.

One of the most famous fans of bullfighting was the US writer Ernest Hemingway, who celebrated the tradition in his book Death in the Afternoon.

In Spain, bullfighting was the theme of a classic novel by Vicente Blasco Ibanez, called Blood and Sand. A famous poem by Federico Garcia Lorca was also dedicated to a bullfighter.

source: BBC.CO.UK.

 

 

that news took a long part of tv news today in most of the channels, mainly speaking about the repercusion of it abroad.

[Cyan Kat]

I imagine people will not be happy about that with it being a tradition and all.

But I'm glad Bullfighting was cruel .

[mc_squared]

What on earth are the Catalans going to do for entertainment now?:stunned:

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

'funny' thing is that catalonian's tradicional events with bull are not affected by this ban, the ban only affects the bullfighting but not other local celebrations that include bulls, as ones that involve the bull wear a fire on their horn. And the bullfight ban was in order to protect the animal from suffering, oh and put them fire on their horns is no making them suffer, right?

which is making some people here think the measure was only anti-spanish one and not pro-animal rights.

 

anyways truth is a lot of people will lose their jobs in around a two years time.

[mc_squared]

'funny' thing is that catalonian's tradicional events with bull are not affected by this ban, the ban only affects the bullfighting but not other local celebrations that include bulls, as ones that involve the bull wear a fire on their horn. And the bullfight ban was in order to protect the animal from suffering, oh and put them fire on their horns is no making them suffer, right?

which is making some people here think the measure was only anti-spanish one and not pro-animal rights.

 

anyways truth is a lot of people will lose their jobs in around a two years time.

 

What about the infamous Pamplona bullrun?:rolleyes:

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

Different C.A. what Catalonia decide don't have to affect that other city/community per se.

Learn geography :p

[mc_squared]

Different C.A. what Catalonia decide don't have to affect that other city/community per se.

Learn geography :p

 

I didn't say Pamplona was in Catalonia.................................. :rolleyes:

[Black Rose]

The bull-fighters will find ways around the ban.

 

Like the fox-hunters found ways around the fox-hunting ban ;)

[mc_squared]

The bull-fighters will find ways around the ban.

 

Like the fox-hunters found ways around the fox-hunting ban ;)

 

I reckon you're talking a load of bull......................... :rolleyes:

[Black Rose]

Moo

[mc_squared]

^Cow rude!:rolleyes:

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

I didn't say Pamplona was in Catalonia.................................. :rolleyes:

i said there's no reason why other communities will apply the same ban law now, it requires a process if they do so, i mean it'll take time.

 

btw today news announced that bullfigheters will protests in the bullrings today.

[mc_squared]

i said there's no reason why other communities will apply the same ban law now, it requires a process if they do so, i mean it'll take time.

 

btw today news announced that bullfigheters will protests in the bullrings today.

 

Well bully for them!:P

[bart]

Fangalistas... ! People that like bull fighting... they are for Franco... should be banned for ever... !

 

Hope they knock down the Arena... in Marina... ! Horrible... and all my friends where in the pubs celebrating when the news broke...

[mc_squared]

Fangalistas... ! People that like bull fighting... they are for Franco... should be banned for ever... !

 

Hope they knock down the Arena... in Marina... ! Horrible... and all my friends where in the pubs celebrating when the news broke...

 

Were they drinking Red Bull?:P